Student dies after fight ends in gunfire at NC high school

According to Tyrrell, a school resource officer was in the school cafeteria at 7:14 a.m. when he and security officers heard a commotion and encountered students running in an adjacent hallway. Tyrrell said the resource officer encountered the victim, tried to give aid and called for a school lockdown.

Within five minutes, a teacher notified school officials that she was with the student who committed the shooting, Tyrrell said, adding that the teacher said the student admitted to the shooting and was ready to surrender.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Clayton Wilcox said the shooting appears to have stemmed from a case of bullying “that escalated out of control.” Neither Wilcox nor Tyrrell said which student was being bullied. Tyrrell said several people apparently knew there would be an altercation at the school, but police had no information on it prior to the incident.

“Someone asked me how could someone, especially a student, come onto one of our campuses with a loaded gun, and I wish I had an answer to that,” Wilcox said. “There really is no easy answer. We do not have metal detectors in our schools. We do not search our students on the way into school. Our schools and students rely on co-operation between and among each other. And today, that simply wasn’t enough.”

Wilcox said that many students witnessed the shooting, and counsellors and psychologists were available.

“There were many kids in the hallway when this happened,” he said.

“We’re incredibly saddened by the fact that we had a loss of life on one of our campuses today. What makes it doubly difficult is that it was one of our students who was the shooter,” he said. While police have not confirmed what kind of gun was used, Wilcox said: “I don’t know how a young person gets a handgun in the state of North Carolina.” He said the system was reviewing its security procedures.

High school student Jorge Sanchez told WSOC-TV in Charlotte that the shooting happened as the result of an argument that escalated. He said the victim, a friend of his, was shot in the back as he walked away.

“I saw the gun and I had to run,” Sanchez said, adding that the gunshot sent students scurrying through the halls.

“This is really sad to see someone go that … has been your friend, for I don’t know how many years,” Sanchez said.

By late morning, school officials said that the lockdown was lifted and families could pick up students at the main entrance. Classes were proceeding for students who remained on campus. The diverse student body of about 2,000 at the school in North Carolina’s most populous county is about one-third white, one-third African-American and one-quarter Hispanic.

Before the lockdown was lifted, dozens of parents gathered outside of the school to await word on the students. Multiple parents told local television channels that they felt confused and unsure about where to meet with their children.

Television footage showed students streaming out, with many crying and hugging parents.

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Follow Drew at www.twitter.com/JonathanLDrew

Jonathan Drew And Tom Foreman Jr., The Associated Press

by Canadian Press

Student dies after fight ends in gunfire at NC high school

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